Finding Exposure Times

Screen exposure problems can be one of the most frustrating issues in the screen printing process. A step wedge test may be the answer to dialing in your exposure times.

Exposure Time / Step-Wedge Test:

Like anything else in life screen printing is a pragmatic series of events, you must look at it in each stage and determine the problem. After looking at the entire series of events youll find that art, screen, printing and troubleshooting will fall effortlessly in place.Concerning the problem of exposure and washout lets break it down into events;

1. You created the art, output the film and had a screen coated.

2. You exposed the screen, attempted to wash out with no results.

Since youre early in the pre-press stages the answers to your problem are obvious and easy to repair, dont worry that you didnt recognize them as even the most seasoned printers overlook minor details.

The troubleshooting begins at youre art;

Was the positive opaque enough? (Could you see light through the film?)If light is creeping through the black images of your film its NOT dark enough and will expose as the rest of the screen would, only slower.

How long has your screen been sitting and has it been exposed to any light before burning?

Screens that have been exposed OR subjected to excessive heat during drying will expose. Ive had screens ruined and exposed by keeping my screen box temperature too high. Screens that have been sitting over a couple of weeks and having the door opened and closed will pre-expose as well.

Is your exposure time long enough?Over time light sources weaken, especially HUV (Black light) units and to compensate you increase your exposure time but make sure your positive is OPAQUE!

If your unsure of an exposure time perform a Step-Wedge test, this involves dividing your screen into 4 sections and marking each with a specific exposure starting with the manufacturers then increasing in increments of 2 minutes per section.

Mark the screen and at the top of each section write 4 minutes, 6, 8 and 10. Produce a piece of art with type, shapes and even some halftones and place it in the 4 minute section, cover the remaining 3 sections with the black sheet; expose for 4 minutes.

After the initial exposure move your art and sheet to the next section, covering the 4 minute section with a light safe sheet as well, you only want the 6 minute section exposed to your light source. Expose this section for 6 minutes and follow this procedure until ALL 4 sections have been exposed at the times indicated.

Wash out the screen as you normally would, completely wetting both sides the let it sit for a few minutes allowing the emulsion to soften (your washout room should be yellow lit as well) then spray softly again on both sides until you see your image washing out.

IMPORTANT; Always do your final washout from the SHIRT side of the screen as this is the side exposed. To determine the best exposure look for; edge definition and degree of unexposed emulsion on the squeegee side while washing out. A properly exposed screen will have less slime on the inside as the exposure light has burned 75 to 90% of the emulsion. Be aware on finer detail you may want to cut back time to maintain the details.

After you have gone through all these parameters, found your time, washed, dried and blocked out your screen and ready to tape dont forget to post-harden your screen for strength and longevity. This is nothing more than exposing the screen on the unit for 10 to 15 minutes or setting it in the sun for 5 minutes, why? During your initial exposure your only trying to burn the image on a screen and maintain detail, post-hardening will ensure a strong, long lasting screen.

Here's a video that we have on how to do a step wedge test: click here